Steve Westly, the former state controller and eBay executive who failed in a gambit to become state governor, is headed back to Menlo Park, the center of Silicon Valley’s venture capital industry.
He may have lost the California Democratic primary to Phil Angelides, but he’s joining Angelides (who won the primary but who subsequently lost to Schwarzenegger) in retreating back to the next best thing — a career in the sexy world of venture capital.
Just like Angelides did a couple of weeks ago, Westly is forming his own investment company. He’s calling it the Westly Group — “to bankroll environmentally friendly business ventures ‘and make sure California is ground zero for the clean technology revolution,’” reports the Sacramento Bee.
Westly’s company will have offices at the big-name venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the backer of Google and many other companies, and which has stepped up investments into green technology. According to the Bee:
In an informal relationship with Kleiner Perkins, Westly will be a co-investor, adviser and roving public speaker on environmentally friendly technologies.
Reminds of the appointment of Colin Powell to Kleiner a year and a half ago.
5 Comments
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kris keller said:
I am looking for a venture group interested in environmental technologies. We have developed a core technology that is being applied to both the solar cell and the high efficient, mercury free lighting industries.
Is the Westly group going?
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BILL SOBY said:
Kris:
I am Managing Director of Financial Innovation Partners. We are beginning a cleantech funding initaitive with offshore resources. You can e-mail to me or call me at 408-329-2982.
Bill
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tip said:
U’ve got good pics, the site could use a tiny bit of work (no offense) its still awesome
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George said:
Westly is such a empty suit. I can’t believe this asshole is still around polluting the air with the shit that flows out of his mouth.
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Eddie A. said:
Ok George, you’ve had your say.
So you think that Steve Westly is an “empty suit”?? Putting aside the fact that Mr. Westly has been a leading environmentalist for more than 30 years, Steve Westly has personally committed his OWN fortune to helping grow inventive, clean, and climate-solving companies. You should also know George, Steve Westly has selflessly devoted himself to both public service as well as “world-class” environmental activism … all the while, so many in the private sector have only succeeded in damaging OUR planet whilst greedily pursuing their OWN shamefull ill gotten gains.
If that isn’t enough, Steve Westly and his wife Anita are generous donors who regularly support an array of critical charitable organizations i.e. The Steve and Anita Westly Foundation (maybe your own children have been treated at the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital George - if not, please know that thousands of our kids have).
The Westlys never self promote - it’s not their way nor is it necessary. Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting this family knows that they are truly exemplary. I only wish that more people in government and the private sector would conduct themselves like Steve and Anita Westly — if so, California and our Nation wouldn’t be suffering in it’s current sorry state.
